Delivery for tobacco strippers



April 2, 1940.

l R. E. RUNDELL DELIVERY FOB TOBACCO STRIPFERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i:Energngz'uwgrgrgngrswarsng J .L l

INVENToR April Z, 1940. n. E. RUNDELL DELIVERY FOR TOBACCO S'I'RIPPERS 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed Jan. 25, 1936 vPatented Apr. 1940 nsuvnaron 'romoco s'ralrPEas kunnen. aunaem MervilleA centre, N. Y., ss'- signor to International Cigar Machinery Oome pany, a corporation of New Jersey Applicationnnuary z5, 193s, vsemi No. I60,801; 13 (ci. 12u-425) This invention relates to improvements in tobe obtained.

j stemmed leaves are bacco stemming machines, more'particularly to the delivery. mechanism thereof, and-is in the nature of an improvement uponthe machine disclosed in Letters -Patent 2,019,721 to Nejedly, granted November 5, 1935. Its main object is to provide improved means for detecting and segregating unstemmed or insuillciently stemmed leaves. stemmedl leaves, vespecially when used as 'cigar llers, should be devoid of any thick stem portions which may be left therein by the im-' proper operation `of the stemming mechanism. For example, a leaf may occasionally pass through the stemming machine without being properly caught by the stemming mechanism,

wherefore it is delivered with more or less ofthe thick portion of the stem still present. In thiscase the imperfectly stemmed leaf should be segregated. ,To this end there is provided mechanism controlled by the unstemmed or insumcientlyl stemmed leaves for diverting the latter positively from the good leaves. A suitable form of mechanism is illustrated herein, comprising theA passage vof defective leavesv thereunder to move a traveling endless belt into position to receive the defective leaf or leaves which would-- otherwise be deposited on anendless conveyor belt for delivery at the desired point. Thus, the

present invention provides for segregating 'the y unstemmed leaves and the imperfectly stemmed leaves positively from the pathin which they a detector of known construction actuated byl are normally advanced to the desired point of delivery.

In this respect the present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon the known practice as disclosed in Letters Patent to Nejedly, 4

No. 2,019,721, where a machine of the general type shown in the patent issued on November 20,

1934, No. 1,981,470, to the present applicant, provides for carrying an unstemmed leaf in the normalpath, but beyond Vthe point where the properly stemmed leaves are deposited, the segregation being eiected at the time ythe properly stemmed leaves are discharged from the normal path.

The thin portion of the leaf, which is left in the leaf, is sometimes objectionableA because, when used as cigar ller it may press into or otherwise injure the cigar wrapper. Moreover, when crushed, a greater portion of the stem may be left in the properly stemmed leaves, since the stem portionremaining there will likewise be crushed to proper size; and a greater weight or yield of stemmed leaves the stem near the tip of Furthermore, in casev the to be blended, it .is desirableI that they be split at the tip sov that the two halves of the leaf can beblended separately. A vsecond object of the invention therefore is to crush'the portion of the stem remaining in the leaves after stemming, and then split the same,

whereby'a greater weight of cigar filler suitable for blending will be obtained.

A further object of the invention is to compress the stri`p, to the end that any wrinkling or curling thereof may be removed.

Still another object is to prevent sticking of the strip to the conveyor belts after the suction has been cut off in the suction chamber under which the belts travel..

The mechanism provided in the'present invention for achieving the iirst object enumerated may consist of a roller suspended from one arm o f a bell-crank lever so as to ride on the leaf delivered by the stemming machine, the other arm carrying an electric contact-maker. When a properly stemmed leaf vpasses under this roller, it does not raise it sufliciently to close the `contact, but an unstemmed or insufllciently stemmed leaf with avthick portion of its stem still presentf'will` do so andv thereby energize a solenoid controlling suitable mechanism for moving an endless belt intolthe path of the faulty leaf, thus diverting the same from its normal delivery path and carrying it` `to a trough provided for this purpose, so that it may be returned to the stemming machine or otherwise disposed of. By diverting the faulty leaves positively instead of carrying them beyond the point at which the good leaves are deposited, as heretofore, there is no possibility of mixing the two types of leaves.

yTo achieve the second object, a pair of superimposed compressorrolls are provided, the upper of which is suspended from 'a pivoted horizontal arm made to oscillate in the vertical direction,

' the swinging movement' of this arm being so timed that the upper roll engages the advancing leaf only during the passage of the unstemmed -portion at its tip, thereby crushing the same.

. For splitting the stemmed leaves, cutter mechanism is incorporated in Athe delivery mechanism, so timed as to descend upon the leaf during the passage of a given length of its tip. The cutter is mounted on an oscillating arm and in its cutting position engages with Aa stationary anvil roller. 'At each side of the cutter an endless horizontal belt guides the leaf and prevents it from leaving the conveyor belt and sticking to the cutter.

The third object is achieved by providing a large drum and a series of additional endless belts, coacting with a series of conveyor belts for the good leaves, the halves of the split leaf passing around the drum between the respective conveyor and additional belts. The pressure exerted by the moving belts upon the leaf during this comparatively long travel effectively straightens out the leaf so that it is delivered in. fiat condition. e

To accomplish the fourth object there may be provided members disposed in recesses in the bottom of the suction chamber and actuated by the air-.expelling plate of the latter and movable between the conveyor belts to engage the adhering leaves and strip them from the belts.

With these and other objects not. specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this speciilcation .and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is Aa sectional side elevation of the delivery end of a stemming machine equipped with the various features of the present invention;

. Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the stem slitter in operating position:

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional end elevation on line 3 2 of Fig. 1, showing the construction of the delivery belt suction chamber and the combined pneumatic ejecting and leaf-depositing device;

Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of a suitable form of stemming mechanism with which the present invention may be combined; and

Fig; 5 is'a front elevation of the same. I

Generally stated, in the particular embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, the tobacco leaves are stemmed and the remaining portion of their stems are crushed and then split to separate the two halves of the leaves.

Apparatus illustrative of one way in which the invention may be carried into effect may, as shown herein, comprise mechanism for stemming tobacco leaves, mechanism for advancing the stemmed leaves, a device for y detecting unare but certain of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. 'Ihe invention therefore is not to be restricted to the particular embodiments chosen as illustrative of the invention.

Referring first to Figs. 4 and 5, wherein a stemming mechanism similar to that shown in Patent No. 1,864,765, granted June 28, 1932, is illustrated, a tobacco leaf T may be manually or automatically inserted tip lfirst between the flaring lips- 2li) of the two halves .'of a suction chamber 2H having pipes 2I2 connected to a suitable source of nipped betweenl belts 2I3 driven by rolls 2| I and looped over guide rollers 2 I5, and carried through the mouths of the two halves of the suction chamber. In its passage therethrough the leaf is Vspread out by the suction which acts in the direc- 5 tion of the arrows (Fig. 1). The outspread leaf is guided from the belts 2I3 by sets of belts 2I3a driven by rolls 2| 4 and trained over rollers 2li, the leaf being delivered from between the latter. on' to the periphery of a perforated sleeve 2II l0 rotating on an apertured cylindrical suction box 2I8 connected by branch pipe 2I9 to one of the pipes 2I2 leading to the source of suction. When the tip of the leaf'reaches the sleeve 2II it is retained thereon by the suction applied through the l5 aperture of the suction box and the perforations of the sleeve, and the leaf carried to a point where it is gripped between the drum and a loop 220a of a conveyor belt 5 (Fig. 4). This belt runs over 4suitable guide rollers 22|, 222, 223 and 225. 20 Parallel with and in opposed relation to the sleeve 2I'I is a rotating cylinder 225 having a series of slotted circumferential anges 221. A series of plungers (not shown) are mounted for movement vis desired to leave in the leaf. Thus that portion of the stem thicker than the distance be- 3.5. tween the sleeve and the cylinder will project into the spaces between the iianges and the inclined pins and be gripped. Since the surface of the sleeve 2I'I and the grippers 229 and anges 221 of the drum 225 travel in diverging paths, the 40 stem will be torn away from the laminae, as shown inFig. 4; Suitable brushes 230 and 23| serve to strip any diverging leaf or stem portions from the members 2I'Iv and 226, and the stripped stems pass into the chute 232. 'I'he stemmed 45 leaves are thus delivered in outspread condition to the portion ofthe machine shown in Fig. 1, wherein the portion of the stems remaining in the leaves is crushed and slit to divide the leaves into halves, and unstemmed or improperly 50 stemmed leaves are segregated.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the leaf L discharged from the stemming mechanism of the machine is carried by the endless belt 5 to the feeler or detector roller 6. The belt 5 is driven from a drum 55 l on a shaft 8 by a chain 9 trained over sprockets on the shaft 8 and the cam shaft I0 of the machine, and runs over guide rollers II and I2. The roller 6 is suspended from a bell-crank I3 carrying an adjustable electric contact-maker I4' 60 opposite a contact Ila, which may be a grounded leaf spring and is pressed down against the passing leaf by a weak tension spring I5. The contact-maker I 4 is normally out of engagement with the leaf spring Ha and is so adjusted that it 65 engages the leaf spring Ma and thus closes an electric circuit when the roller 6 is raised above a given height by the passing leaf. Thus, a leaf with the thick part of its stem entirely removed will pass under the roller 6 without affecting the 70 electric contact, but'an unstemmed leaf or one not properly stemmed will close the circuit and thereby will energize a solenoid and effect the movement of its core in a direction which will set into operation mechanism, hereinafter described,

` normal path and separate it from the good leaves.

which will later deflect the faulty leaf from its Upon emerging from underthe feeler roller, the leaf L passes over adrum I8 rotating on a shaft |1. With the drum I8 intermittently engages an oppositely revolving drum I8 on a shaft I9 mounted in the free end of an arm 28, the arm 28 being oscillated on a shaft 2| by a rod 22 actuated by a, cam lever engaging a cam |28 on shaftil8.- The oscillations of arm 28 are so timed that the engagement of the drums I8 and |8 takes place upon the arrival of leaf L, but lasts only during the passage of the tip of the leaf,

so as to crush the thin portion of the stem left in the same by the stemming mechanism of the machine. Scrapers 23 and wiping pads 24 are arranged to bear against each of the drums Il and I8 and keep its surface clean during the operation of the machine. The pads 24 are made of felt or other suitable material and molstened with water from a reservoir 25 and are carried by and kept in wiping motion by. linkage (not shown) connected to a rocker arm actuated from cam shaft`l8..

From the compressor drums the leaf is guided by revolving stripping brushes 26O onto a pair of transfer belts 21 running over sets of rollers 28, 29 andl 38 on shafts 3|, 32 and 33, respectively. On shaft 32, between the rollers 29, is mounted an anvil roller 34 Iwith which intermittently engages a cutter 35 rotating on a shaft 36 in an arm 31 pivoted on a shaft 38. `The arm 31 is oscillated by a rod 39 connected to a cam lever or the like |21 suitably actuated from the cam shaft I8 by a cam (not shown) in such a manner that the cutter 35 is in its operating position shown inF'ig. 2 just long enough to split lengthwise the stem tippreviously crushed byv roller |8.

A set of endless belts 48 arranged on each side of cutter 35 run over sets of rollers 4| and 42 on shafts 43 and 44, these belts being parallel with and in close proximity to the belts 21 so as to hold theV leaf down on the latter belts and prevent it from vsticking to the cutter.

Shaft I1 of roller |6 is driven by a chain 45 from shaft 8 of drum 1 and in turn drives shaft 3| of rollers 28 by asprocket chain 46.y A gear 41 on shaft 3| mieshes with a gear 48 on shaft 38 of arm 31, the shaft 38 driving theshafts 2|, 36 and 43 by sprocket chains 49, 58 and v5| respectively, and the shaft |9 being driven from shaft -2| by al sprocket chain 52.

From the end rollers .38 of belts 21 the now separated halves of the leaf are transmitted on to the endless conveyor belts 53k if the guide rollers 51| of the endless conveyor belts .55 are in their normal upper position 54 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. But if the rollers 54-,vwhichturn on a shaftv 56, are in theinzlower position shown in full' lines, the unstem'rnedfor-A insufciently stemmed leaf L is diverted onto thebelts 55 and thenceinto a trough 59 provided vfor vitsreceptiorr. i

The shaft 56 of the rollers55 is carried by arms 68 pivoted on brackets 6| and is connected by a ,link 62 with oneend of a balance arm 63. The

other end of arm 63 is connected by a link 64 with a cam lever 6,5 fulcrumed on a shaft 66 and having a follower 61 held down on a plate cam 68 on shaft |8 by a tension spring 69. To the shaft I8 is fastened a gear 18 which drives a gear 1| on a shaft 12. In the web of the gear 1| are slidably supported a number of equi-distantly spaced pins 13, their number depending on the gear-ratio chosen, and from the hub of cam lever 86 extends an arm 14 having an arcu ate face conforming with the path of the pins 13. In their normal position the rear ends of the pins 13 are flush with the rear face of the web of gear 1| so that the arm 14 can move freely, but when they are made to protrude from the web, as hereinafter described, they engage the curvedface of arm 14and prevent the cam lever 65 from moving, so that the tension of the spring 69 cannot raise the arms 68 when the' roller 61 has run off the high point of cam 68, wherefore the rollers 55 remain in their lower position.

On a pedestal 15 ,carrying shafts 66 and 12 is mounted a solenoid 16, the core 11 of which, by a link I18, ls connected with a bell-crank lever 18 having an arcuate pusher 88 arranged to engage the pins 13. T'he solenoid 16 is connected to a source of A. C. electric current lines 8| and 82, thelatter being provided with a circuit breaker 83 controlled by an electromagnet 84 connected to one terminal of the secondary of a trans-l former 85 by lead 86 and connected by'lead 81 to contact-maker I4. The primary of the transformer 85 is connected to the lines 8| and 82, and the other terminal of its secondary is grounded. When the contact |4a is engaged'by the contact-maker I4 during the passage of an unstemmled `leaf under the detector roll 6, the circuit through the electro-magnet is closed and the circuit breaker 83 is thus closed, whereupon the core 11 of solenoid 16 forces the shoe 88 against the pin or pins 13 then registering with it, and pushes the'same back through the web of gear 1| into position to block the movement of the arm 14, thereby maintaining the rollers 54 in their lower position at the time when the leaf which has caused contact I4 to close reaches the delivery end of the transfer belt 21. As the gear l1| continues its rotation, the displaced pin or pins 13 engage a stationary cam-piece 88 attached to frame 15 and are reset forwardly in a. position to clear the arm` 14 before they again come into registration with'the pusher 88.

When the pins 13 remain in their normal or neutral position, as during the passage under detector roller 6 of' properly stemmed leaves, the rollers 54 are raised by cam 68 into position 54 wherefore the belt 55 is normally maintained in its raised positionwhen a properly stemmed leaf isdischacrgedk frombelts 21 and theseparate halves L ofthe leaf are then deposited upon the perforated conveyor belts 5,3 which by rollers 89, 98

and 9|y are guided over a suction chamber 92 and around a large drum 93 on ,a shaft 94 and under the suction chamber. Endless belts 95, guided and` kept taut' byrollersj96, 91, 98, 99 and 9|` along the topof` suction chamber 92 and around l shaft 58 lof rollers 51, and shaft 58 carries a gear |83 driving a gear 84 on the shaft |85 of rollers 91. The outspread halves L of the leaf are retained on the belt 53 while being carried under the chamber 92, by the suction in the chamber applied through the perforations of the belts 53, into position over screens |86 conveyed transversely of the belts 53 on chains |81 driven by sprockets |88 on a shaft |89 supported by bearings ,I I8 on the frame When the leaf halves arrive at the proper position for delivery to one of the screens |06, as seen in Fig. 3, the suction in chamber 92 is cut 'o by a valve ||2 in suction pipe |13, this valve being connected by a rod i N-'to a cam lever |28 actuated from a cam (not shown) on shaft I0. At the same time a rod |I5 actuated by a cam lever H6' controlled by a cam ill on shaft Illr turns a bell-crank H8 on chamber 92, thereby, through bar H9 and levers and I 2| depressing a. plate |22 within chamber 92, thus expelling air from the same Fingers |23 attached to plate |22 carry bars |24,

Fig. 3, which normally lie 'in recesses in the under side of the bottom of chamber 92 so that they do not interfere with the leaves carried by the beltsV 53. When the plate |22 is depressed, the bars |24 push the leaf L oilr the belts 53 and aided by the blast of ejected air, deposit it on the screen |06, thereby insuring its proper delivery to the latter, l

While it is desirable to split the stemmed leaves in case they are to be blended, it will be understood that this splitting operation may. be omitted. Furthermore, while it is desirable before blending, to collect the separate leaf halves on screens so that they may be readily introduced into the drier, the leaves, split or unsplit,

` may be collected on an endless traveling surface such as a delivery belt or the like. The leaves are preferably deposited in overlapping relationon the screens, the latter being 'suitably timed for that purpose with relation'to the mechanism for stemming the tobacco leaves and depositing them on the screens.

What is claimed is:

1. In a stemming machine, the combination with mechanism for stemming tobacco leaves, of mechanism for advancing the stemmed leaves, a

device for detecting unstemmed and insuicient-- ly stemmed leaves among the leaves advanced by said leaf-advancing mechanism, and means controlled by said device for. diverting ythe unstemmed and insufficiently stemmed leaves from said leaf-advancing mechanism, said leaf-advancing mechanism including an endless traveling conveyor belt arranged to receive and deliver the stemmed leaves at a predetermined point, and endless traveling members acting to transport the stemmed leaves under said device to said conveyor belt, and said means including an endless traveling delivery belt, a guide roller adjacent the point at which the stemmed leaves are delivered from said members to said belt, the delivery belt being looped over said guide roller, and means connected to said device for lowering said roller to bring the delivery belt into position to receive a faulty leaf detected by said device.

2.\The combination with mechanism for advancing stemmed leaves, of members coacting with said mechanism for compressing the advancing leaves, so that they will be delivered by said mechanism in fiat condition, said mechanism including a traveling endless conveyor belt, and

said members including a drum over which said conveyor belt is looped, around 'substantially a 'semi-circumference of the drum a compressor belt looped over said drum outside, and co-extensive in area with the aforesaid area of said conveyor belt, and rollers arranged to guide and keep said belts taut whereby a stemmed leal delivered between the same will be compressed and delivered in at condition, a device for advancing screens horizontally under said mechanism at the proper speed and in a direction such that the stemmed leaves will be delivered on the vscreens in sidewise overlapping relation, and

ing them in Outnread condition to said mechanism f3. In a stemming machine, the combination i with means for forwarding stemmed leaves, of a device for detecting unstemmed leaves among the 4advancing, leaves, mechanism independent of said device for receiving the leaves directly from said leaf-forwarding means and delivering them' in a predetermined position, and instrumentalities controlled by said device for engaging and carrying and thereby removing the unstemmed leaves positively from the normal path in which the stemmed leaves are advanced by said mechanism, before. they reach said predetermined position.

4. In a stemming machine, the combination with means for stemming tobacco leaves while forwardingthem tip foremost, of mechanism engaging the tips only of the stemmed leaves advanced by said means to thereby crush the remaining portions of the stems of properly stemmed leaves and the tip portions only of the stems of improperly stemmed and unstemmed leaves, and members for slitting lengthwise the crushed stem portions of successive leaves advanced by said means to thereby separate the properly stemmed portionsv only into halves.

5. 'I'he combination with mechanism for sdvancing stemmed and split leaves, of members -coacting with said mechanism for compressing the advancing leaves, so that they will be delivered in that condition, said mechanism including traveling endless conveyor belts, and said members including a drum over which said conveyor belts are looped, and compressor belts looped over said drum outside said conveyor belts and coacting therewith to compress the stemmed leaves thereagainst and arranged to guide the leaves on said conveyor belts over said drum and deliver them individually and horizontally below said drum and means for advancing screens horizontally below said drum at the proper speed and in a. direction to permit the leaves to be delivered on the screens in sidewise overlapping relation.

6. In a stemming machine. the combination with mechanism for advancing leaves to a predetermined point, of means for stemming tobacco leaves and delivering them directly to said mechanism, 'a device for detecting unstemmed and insumciently stemmed leaves among the leaves advanced by said means, and positive means controlled by said device for engaging and carrying and thereby switching the unstemmed and insumciently stemmed leaves from the normal path in which the stemmed leaves are advanced directly to said point by said mechanism before they reach said mechanism, leaving the stemmed leaves under the iniluence and control ot said mechanism for such direct advancement tosaid predetermined point.

"I. In a. stemming machine, the combination with mechanism for advancing leaves to a predetermined point, of means for stemming tobacco leaves and delivering, them to Vsaid mechanism, a devic`e for detecting unstemmed leaves among the leaves advanced by said mechanism, an endless belt, and means controlled by said device for moving said belt bodily into a position wherein the unstemmed and insuiliciently stemmed leaves will be deposited on said belt and thus diverted before they reach said .predetermined point.l

8. The combination with mechanism for a'dvancing stemmed tobacco leaves comprising a leaves are gripped,

of opposed belts between which the of a drum about which said belts are looped for compressing the advancing leaves as they pass around said drum, said belts having at least one straight conveying belt run at the entrance and exit sides of the looped portions for conveying said leaves into and out of operative relation to said drum and the portions of said belts coacting with said drum, at least one of saidbelts being provided with suction openings, a suction chamber on the one side of said belt on the delivery run thereof and means for periodically cutting off the suction to permit delivery of the flattened leaf from said belt.

9, In a stemming machine, the combination with mechanism for advancing leaves to a predetermined point, of means for stemming tobacco plurality Y leaves and delivering them -to said mechanism,

a device detecting improperly stemmed leaves among the leaves advanced by said mechanism, an auxiliary conveyor and means controlled by said device for moving said auxiliary conveyor into position to intercept and divert improperly stemmed leaves from the properly stemmed ones before they reach said predetermined point.

10. In a stemming machine, the combination with a suction chamber havinga perforated bottom, of a series of perforated endless traveling belts disposed in spaced relation and having runs overlying said chamber, and other runs Aunderlying said perforated bottom, mechanism for stemming and splitting tobacco leaves and delivering the separated leaf-halves on said 'overlying runs, traveling members acting to retain the leaf-halves on said belts while they are advanced on to said perforated bottom, whereby the leaf-halves will be suctionally retained on said belts, and means for periodically cutting oi'f s the suction from said chamber to cause the leafhalves to be delivered therebelow at a desired point.

1i. In a stemming machine, the combination with mechanism for stemming tobacco leaves, of means arranged to receive the leaves-and advance them in a path leading to a delivery static a device for advancing the leaves from said mechanism directly to said means and detecting unstemmed and Iinsufliciently stemmed leaves among said leaves, and a member controlled by said device for movement into a position wherein it positively engages and carries and directs unstemmed and insufliclently stemmed leaves away from said means and thereby effects segregation as between the same and the`properly stemmed leaves by diverting the unstemmed and insumciently stemmed leaves from said path before they reach said means.

12. In a stemming machine, the combination with mechanism for removing the major portion of the stem of a tobacco leaf, of a device for advancing the stemmed leaf tip foremost and crushing the remaining portion of the stem, said device including a crushing roll and mechanism for intermittently moving said roll into engagement with the unstemmed tip portions only of successive leaves advanced by said device and thereby crushing the stem portions therein.

13. In a stemming machine, the combination with mechanism removing the major portion of the stem of a tobacco leaf and leaving the tip end thereof unstemmed, of members for advancingy the stemmed leaf with its unstemmed tip foremost to a predetermined point, and means for splitting the unstemmed portion of the ad- RUPERT E. RUNDELL. 

